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Sabal Palm, Sabal texana, is the only palm native to Texas. It once grew along the 20-mile long corridor of the Rio Grande River’s delta. Over time, most of the native stands of the palm have been destroyed for farming. The Audubon Society purchased these 557 acres containing one of the last native stands of the palm.
Since this is an Audubon Society property, and part of the World Birding Center, the main focus here is birding - walk quietly and don't stray off-trail (no geocaching). Birders don't like to be disturbed; if you're quiet enough, you can almost be guaranteed a glimpse of the indigenous (and beautiful) Green Jay.
The Native Trail, beginning at the parking lot, is where you’ll learn what the Sabal Palm and Ebony Trees are. The most common plants are signed, so it’s probably the best trail to begin with. The Native Trail also takes you to an overlook of the Rio Grande River and ends in a butterfly garden. Jutting off from the Native Trail, along the banks of the Rio Grande, is the misnamed 'Via del Rio Trail' - the river is hidden through dense vegetation.
On the opposite side of the visitor's center, the Forest Trail takes you through the native Sabal Palm Forest. There are a lot of palms, a lot of palmettos, and Spanish moss dangling everywhere. The trail has a Houston-feel to it.
On the other side of the reseca, after you cut through reeds taller-than-you whilst hoping they don’t hide an alligator, is the Resaca Loop. Most of this trail is through Ebony tree grasslands. The last portion is a boardwalk down the middle of the resaca. The trails are all wide and nicely maintained, with boardwalks in all the right places.
You can download a 2.3-mile hiking track. The track begins at the parking lot, follows the Native Trail to the Via del Rio Trail, loops back to the parking lot, then heads down the Forest Trail, looping around on the Resaca Trail over the boardwalk and back to the parking lot and visitors center.
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